Seeder.



No. 726,880. PATENTED MAY 5, 1903. G. W. DENYES & 0. SCHUTT.

SEEDER. APPLIQATION FILED JAN. a; 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNTTEE STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

PATENT OEEIQE.

SEE'DERI SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 726,880, dated May. 5, 1903.

Application filed January 8,1903. Serial No. 138,259. (No model.)

To all whom, zit may concern:

Be it known that W6,GAYLARD W. DENYES and OWEN SOHUTT, of Cassopolis, Michigan, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Seeders, of which'the following is a specification.

Our improvement relates to the drag-bar of seeders, being particularly applicable to that kind which is provided with a parallel or horizontal spring, and has to do with the means by which adjustment is secured between the spring and drag-bar to increase or decrease the tension of any individual spring at will.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drag-bar and shoe with a spring and operating-lever attached and our improvement in connection therewith. Fig. 2 may be considered a plan View of our invention, showingthe operative relation of the spring-rod,.the clip, and adjustable toothed side pieces. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of'the' parts shown in Fig. 2 it cut on the line 3 3. Fig. 4 is a section of Fig. 2 on the line 4 4:. Fig. 5 is a plan of the grain-chute, showing the trunnions and link conuecting with the spring. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of same portion; and Fig..8-is a side elevation of a portion of Fig. 2,'showing the teeth on the clip and on the slottedjside piece;

Referring to the drawings, A represents the two-piece drag-bar; B, the furrow-opening device, shown as a shoe, secured to said dragbar; 0, the hollow standard or grain-chute; D, a spring-rod substantially parallel with the lower end of the drag-bar and shoe, and Eaforked link engaging the upper end of the grain-tube O and connecting the free end of the spring D with the rock-arm F, which is rigidly secured to the rock-shaft G.

The foregoing, generally considered, are

parts common to many of the various styles of seeders, and a specific description is therefore unnecessary.

Between the opposing members of the dragbar A is the clip H, pivotally secured thereto by the bolt 72. This clip consists, essentially, of a boss, which .forms the pivotal bearing for the bolt 72, and a downwardly-extending longitudinally-slotted web it, the lower end thereof merging into a semicircular rib extending transversely relative to the clip. The lower portion of this semicircular rib or boss is extended rearwardly, forming the lip 71*, which acts as a distance-piece between the two members of the drag-bar.

transversely relative to the length of said boss and forming a groove or seat for the spring D, which lies therein, the springD being beneath the said boss at this pivotal point and above the semicircular rib at the free end of said clip, as shown in Fig. 3. Integral with the semicircular rib are the projecting lugs 7?. h with teeth formed on the under sides thereof, as shown in Fig. 8.

J J are longitudinally-slotted side pieces, each provided on its upperedge with a ledge which fits over the edge of the drag-bar. On each of these ledges ispreferably a series of teeth adapted to be engaged by the teeth on the lugs h? k of theclip H'." The toothed surfaces of these ledges are correspondingly tapered, the teeth receding from the edges of the drag-bar as they approach the pivotal bearingof the said clip, as shown in Fig. 3, andfforjming what amounts to a wedge serrated'hpon its upper edge. These side pieces are slotted, as shownin Figs. l, 3, and 8, so that as the bolt j, which secures them to the drag-bar, is loosened they can be moved longitudinally along thebar, thus bringing a higher or lower portion of the toothed wedge on thesaid side pieces to bear against the toothedprojecting lugs h h of the clip H, thus causing the said clip H to move upon its pivotal axis, which is formed by the bolt h. As this clip forms the bearing for the short end of the spring D and the fulcrum of the spring is coincident with the pivotal ,point of said clip, any movement given theclip will accordingly afiect the long end of thespring-moving it, if not restrained, to or from the shoe B, and if the movement of the said spring is limited then what amounts to the equivalent will occuri. e. the tensionof the said spring will be increased or decreased, and the shoe B will be forced down to the soil with a greater or less degree of pressure. As shown in the several figures, the side pieces J J are in their extreme upper positions, so that all adjustment will operate to increase the tension of said spring, since the strength On the boss: of the clip are the shoulders 712 712, extending thereof is likely to decrease more or less from use. The connection between the spring D and the lifting device is such that the springpressure is exerted continuously on the shoe,

and the said shoe is limited in its vertical movement. This we accomplish by having the bent end of the link E forked, as shown in Fig. 5. This fork passes beneath the trunnions c c on the grain-tube C, and on the ends of said fork are secured the rollers e e by the bolt (2, as shown in Fig. 6. These rollers e 6 form a seat or pivotal bearing for the springrod D and are made in two parts, as shown, to facilitate construction and assembling. The lifting mechanism brings this fork of the link E to bear against the trunnions o c and in this manner lifts the shoe or limits its downward movement.

The operation of our improvement is as follows: The long end of the spring D is held rigidly in position by the link E, the rockarm F, and the rock-shaft G, with a suitable lever secured thereto. The short end of the said spring D, bearing against the free end of the clip H, which in turn presses against the bolt j, will exert a downward pressure upon the drag-bar and shoe; but the dragbar being pivotally sustained at its forward end the rear or shoe end only will respond to the action of the spring. It is thus seen that by movement of the rock-shaft A the shoes 13 can be pressed into the soil with any desired degree of pressure or by gravity alone. The pressure of each individual shoe is regulated by loosening the bolt j, and to increase the effect of the spring the side pieces J J are moved downwardly along the drag-bar, the toothed wedges engagingat a higher point, thus raising the free end of the clip H and the long end remaining in the same position. The pressure between the short end of the spring and clip will in consequence be increased. To decrease the spring-pressure,

the said slides are of course moved in the reverse direction.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the drag-bar of a seeder, an adjustable clip pivotally secured thereto, a spring fulcrn med on said drag-bar, the pivotal point of said clip and the fulcrumpoint of said spring being coincident, the spring consisting of a long arm extending approximately horizontally and connecting with the lifting and controlling device, and a short arm bearing against said adjustable clip, a furrow-opening device secured to said dragbar, a grain-chute secured to said furrowopening device, and a lifting and controlling device pivotally connected with the free end of the long arm of said spring and adapted to engage and raise the said grain-chute and connected parts thereof, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the drag-bar of a seeder, a clip pivotally secured thereto, longitudinally movable inclined edged side pieces cooperatively connected with said dragbar and clip, a spring fulcru med on said dragbar, said spring consisting of a long arm extending approximately horizontally and connecting with the lifting and controlling device, and a short arm bearing against said clip, a furrow-opening device secured to said drag-bar, a grain-chute connected to said furrow-opening device, and a lifting and controlling device pivotally connected with the free end of the long arm of said spring and adapted to raise the said grain-chute and connected parts thereof, substantially as described.

G. WV. DENYES. OWEN SOHUTT. In presence of- J. C. WARNES, T. H. ALFREDS. 

